On Thu, May 7, 2009 at 5:55 AM, Albert Cahalan <acaha...@gmail.com> wrote: > Maria Droujkova writes: > >> I think it may be useful to distinguish tracks, and destinations to >> which they lead. The real deal destinations are to make mathematics: >> coin definitions and refine them, pose problems, form conjectures, >> construct example spaces, create models and so on. Activities with >> real deal destinations invite students to make mathematics; this is >> the part where I get pretty "religious" and I suspect Tim does, as well. > > I don't think this is a proper expectation. > > Gym class isn't expected to create pro or Olympic athletes. > Music class isn't expected to create pop stars. Native language > class isn't expected to create a J. K. Rowling, Shakespeare, > or Tom Clancy. > > Math isn't any different.
I agree that math should not be different, but currently it is. Native language class students are expected to write original essays, not bestsellers; and music schools include composition exercises that aren't expected to land on Broadway. Math should not be different. I do not expect students to coin dictionary-worthy definitions, pose Nobel-level problems, form paradigm-shifting conjectures, or construct example spaces as complex as Reimann geometry or quaternion arithmetic. They have to do all these activities at their own level, with a lot of support. -- Cheers, MariaD Make math your own, to make your own math. http://www.naturalmath.com social math site http://groups.google.com/group/naturalmath our email group http://www.phenixsolutions.com empowering our innovations _______________________________________________ IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep